{
  "id": 13788813,
  "title": "Blood proteins may offer new clues to gut health in celiac disease",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/blood-proteins-may-offer-new-clues-to-gut-health-in-celiac-disease",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-11T20:00:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-blood-proteins-clues-gut-health.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that occurs when the immune system reacts negatively to gluten. This reaction causes inflammation in the gut, potentially damaging the intestine and reducing its ability to absorb nutrients. Treatment involves strictly avoiding gluten consumption. While many individuals adhere to the diet, current blood tests do not always provide clear indications of ongoing inflammation or intestinal damage. Jostein Holen Ibsen, a Ph.D. fellow and physician, explains that despite strict adherence to a gluten-free diet, some patients still experience uncertainty about disease progression due to inconclusive blood test results. In a new study, Ibsen and colleagues investigated whether blood proteins could serve as biomarkers to indicate disease activity. By analyzing blood and tissue samples from celiac disease patients and healthy individuals, the researchers identified 24 proteins associated with the condition, with nine linked to intestinal damage severity. Elevated levels of inflammatory proteins were found in untreated celiac disease patients, while healthy individuals had lower levels. Additionally, protein levels differed significantly before and after treatment, suggesting potential diagnostic value of blood proteins. However, patients on a gluten-free diet still exhibited slightly higher protein levels than healthy controls, indicating residual gut inflammation. The findings suggest that blood protein tests may complement existing methods in monitoring celiac disease, providing more accurate insights into disease progression and healing.",
  "summary": "Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system reacts adversely to gluten. Eating gluten causes inflammation in the gut, which can damage the intestine and impair its ability to absorb nutrients.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}